As you can see I have done some experimenting with volume metric clouds, I really love what they add to the game, I just need to work on optimizing them.

-Concerning the building mechanic, I have been strongly considering a system of free building. This would do away with the blocky parts, and they would be replaced by much more detailed parts that resemble much more closely a realistic object. This would require a symmetry tool without a doubt otherwise player's creations would look so ridiculously disorganized you might fear to go near it... Unless of course that was the effect the player wanted.

This new system could be likened to the game "Kerbal Space Program" and the building system they use in their aircraft hanger. A combination of nodes and free building.